Acanthamoeba Keratitis - A Diagnostic Dilemma: A Case Report

Acanthi amoeba keratitis presents as diagnostic dilemma as it mimics herpes simpex viral keratitis. It is also a diagnostic challenge due to lack of awareness, difficulty in diagnosis which requires strong clinical suspicion and lack of effective treatment further complicates its management. We report a case of 47years old female with pain, redness and watering having deep stoma ring infiltrates. The strong suspicion based on clinical findings and failure to respond to antiviral therapy prompted us to investigate her further and the diagnosis of acanthi amoeba keratitis was made although there was no history of contact lens wear. Inspite of full diagnostic work up for bacterial, fungal and viral corneal pathogen, the diagnosis of Acanthi amoeba can be easily missed, therefore one must keep the possibility of this rare entity.